Meet Haroun Pietersen, the 2024 Africa Powerlifting Champion

Hailing from Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats, Haroun Pietersen has triumphed at the 2024 African Men’s Classic Powerlifting Championships, securing the Africa Powerlifting title earlier this month.

This achievement further solidifies his status as a four-time record holder, having broken one of his own records previously set at the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships.

Continuing his impressive performance, just two weeks before claiming the African title, Pietersen also brought home a gold medal for South Africa at the Commonwealth Championships.

At 37-years-old and weighing 104 kg, Pietersen currently squats 322.5 kg, bench presses approximately 217.5 kg, and deadlifts around 285 kg, equating to nearly three times his body weight.

He notes that powerlifting is not only an expensive sport but also one that is rarely introduced to his community.

After years of being an avid lifter at the gym, a friend connected him with a coach, leading to his first competition in 2023.

And as they say, the rest is history – and a successful history at that.